Essentials:

Burberry. G/F, Gaysorn Shopping Centre, 999 Ploenchit Rd., 02-656-1389. BTS Chidlom
Native. 1/F Shoe Café, Paradise Park, 61 Srinakarin Rd., 02-787-1000
Swims. 1/F The Emporium, Sukhumvit Soi 24 Sukhumvit Rd.,
02-610-7923. BTS Phrom Phong
Vivienne Westwood. 1/F, Zen Department Store, 999/1 Rama 1 Rd., 02-100-9999

Baan Bar

4/13 Soi Rangnam, Phaya Thai Rd. 02-642-7230. BTS Victory Monument.
Located right besides the King Power Complex on Soi Rangnam, Baan Bar has a homey and relaxing vibe. It’s the perfect spot to grab a bite, a beer and do it on the cheap. Their second floor welcomes exhibitions from artists from the Wai Art group and the occasional university student.

Bar Bali

Pra Arthid Rd., 02-656-6378. Open daily from 9am-2pm.
This small Bali-inspired bar is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with some nice acoustic cover bands in the evening. Looking to the art side, the bar supports the university students’ art scene as you can see new works from Thammasat or Silapakorn’s arty kids displayed here.

Brown Sugar

469 Prasumen Rd. 087-112-7774
The near-legendary Brown Sugar has moved from Langsuan to a location on Prasumen Road. It’s new address means a second floor is now available to host art exhibitions. To kick things off, they’re showing sketches and drawings by Kraisak Choonhawan in an exhibition titled “Once in a Life Time.”

Eat Me

Soi Piphat 2, Silom Rd., 02-238-0931. Open daily 3pm-1am. www.eatmerestaurant.com
Too bad the bar space on the ground floor is always deadly quiet. Eat Me was making good cocktails even before the Flow boys rescued Bangkok from dodgy gin and tonics. Eat Me also happens to have great art collections, from H Gallery up until recently, and now from curator Pan Pan Narkprasert. Expect Chulalongkorn art students and some up-and-coming regional contemporary artists.

Nospace

21/108 Block D, RCA, Rama 9 Rd. Open Wed-Sat 6pm-1am. www.nospacebkk.com.
It’s a challenge to run a gallery located right at the epicenter of the city’s nightlife scene. But once the sun has dropped below the horizon, the Nospace gallery magically morphs into a sizeable bar, complete with a space reserved for bands, most of which are under indie label Panda Records.

Pranakorn Bar

58/2 Soi Damnoenklang Tai, 02-622-0282. Open daily 6pm-1am.
The rooftop space is not the only highlight at this artsy venue. The other three floors feature photos and paintings from young artists, making them well worth a visit. The soundtrack (a mix of pop and jazz), solid menu of Thai food and cheap drinks don’t hurt either.

WTF

7 Sukhumvit Soi 51, 02-626-6246. Open Tue-Sun 3pm-10pm (gallery), 6pm-1am (bar). BTS Thong Lo. www.wtfbangkok.com.
Apart from their creative cocktails like Muay Thai Punch and The Robert Frost, WTF hosts a serious art space on its second and third floors. With its political themes and outdoor installations, WTF does the kind of art commercial galleries can’t afford to show—and you can’t afford to miss.

Ploy Chavaporn Laohapongchana

She parties with celebrities, works as a personal shopper for Topshop Thailand, started her own handmade headband label under P’s Material, and is now a leading fashion blogger. Ploy, 28, first gained popularity by wearing headbands decorated with life-sized birds which soon became a huge hit. Since then, she’s has been a prominent trend setter. Combining her experience as a personal shopper and her keen eye (she always carries a camera), she’s developed a very personal style, using a lot of mix-and-match, whimsical accessories and a devil-may-care attitude. The result: 31,000 twitter followers and 21,000 on Facebook. poboxstyle.blogspot.com

Chalisa Viravan

A personal shopper for Siam Paragon and The Emporium, head designer of her brand Muung Doo, blogger (“Taste of Nowhere”), and stylist for Elle Thailand, Chalisa Viravan is another red hot fashion multi-tasker. She’s also retailing a specially curated collection of her favorite fashion finds, The Taste Market, making her more than just a taste-maker, but also an e-shopping powerhouse. www.tasteofnowhere.com

Panya “Ou” Jitrmanasakd’s

A fashion design graduate from the Istituto Marangoni, in London, Ou started out as a fashion blogger on Ploy Chavaporn’s site. Originally intended as a kind of portfolio, Ou’s Me-Panya blog soon got him plenty of work as a fashion blogger, fashion writer for Symbol of Style and designer and founder of clothing label Apostrophe-P. Ou’s blog will take you to fashion shows, collection previews as well as show you his favorite looks—and trust us when we say it’s his looks that keep his followers coming back for more. mepanya.blogspot.com

Rise of the Provinces

Khon Kaen’s nightlife is becoming legendary for its non-stop partying students—try U Bar and Rad Bar. Udon Thani’s retail options rival Bangkok’s malls (thanks to a newly minted Lao middle-classes crossing over the Mekong)—try Central Plaza and UD Town. There’s even talk of giving Pattaya a special status a la Phuket—and Chiang Mai, too, could get an administrative overhaul to deal with its growing sprawl. Despite the floods, it seems 2012 could mark the beginning of the end of Thailand’s single city focus.

H&M

While people around the world were going crazy about Marni for H&M, not to mention Lagerfeld, Lanvin and Versace, here in Thailand, we’re left sulking in front of our computer screens. (Oh Uniqlo, how quickly we’ve forgotten you.) But H&M has now announced on their Facebook that they are coming to Thailand this year! Finally, a chic-and-cheap fashion salvation is at hand. Rumor is the shops will be at Paragon and Mega Bangna (next to IKEA).

More Sustainable Food

There’s great promise for greener eating in Bangkok. One of the leading hotel groups, Peninsula, recently ceased to serve shark fins at all their hotels and others have followed, such as Shangri-La. (It should be noted that Banyan Tree stopped serving shark ages ago.) But it’s not just seafood. Jess Barnes, chef of soon-to-open Quince, recently cooked for us at Opposite using a locally-reared pig and organic produce. Chef Ian Kittichai is growing his own veggies at Issaya. And more restaurateurs are buying local products. Our full story at bit.ly/wkzfq9.

Polycat and Brown Flying

Synth-pop band from Chiang Mai, Polycat will release their first studio album this month. The first promo single “Tha Ter Kid ja Leum Kao” made it to number 2 on the Fat 40 chart while their latest release “La” is last week’s highest entry. Also, Believe Records will be bringing us 90s-rock-inspired band Brown Flying, another band we tip to be big this year. Indie rock is still hot!

Cocktails 3.0

Beer and cocktails fight back as the huge wine boom continues to steamroll Bangkokians drinking habits. Of course, cocktails already got a resurrection two years ago when venues like Hyde & Seek, WTF and Soul Food Mahanakorn started doing some really great (and potent) drinks to ease you into your meals—an art hitherto unknown to Bangkok (except maybe at Eat Me). But the trend remained fairly tame and manly, with a strong focus on classics that wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of Mad Men. 2012 seems to bring back color, theatrics and a touch of molecular nonsense to mixed drinks. Take the “Imoo,” created especially for Sunset Sundays at St. Regis bar: it mixes green tea and topped with coconut foam. Or check out the molecular offerings at the W XYZ Bar at Aloft Hotel, like the Raspberry Martini Ravioli or the Apple Crumble. But our favorite mixologist du jour is Italian Mirko Gardelliano, at Water Library (The Grass Thonglor 12, 02-714-9293).

Southeast Asian Sounds

Last year, DJ Maft Sai brought the Cambodian Space Project to Bangkok, a new exploration of our near-neighbor’s music scene (even if the band is only half Cambodian). This year, the collective Delicate Group, is bringing in electronic band Bottlesmoker from Indonesia, who recently headlined at an experimental music festival in Philippines called Fete de la WSK. The guys behind Delicate Group also happen to be one half of the band Space 360 playing at Hanoi Sound Stuff Festival in Vietnam. All good signs of rising standards and greater variety in our local music scene. That and the fact that we’ve already seen a growing number of hip and relevant inter indie groups playing Bangkok this year, including The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and the Black Keys, with Summer Camp coming soon—and it all suggests a very healthy musical future.

Even Better Beer

Beervana is coming. While the wine renaissance continues to rage, there’s thankfully plenty of good news for those who prefer their liquor in a pint glass. We’ve already done a story (see http://tinyurl.com/6pd4hju) about the new wave of exciting imported ales now available at a growing number of specialist beer bars in the city and the trend sees no sign of abating. One of the recent pop up restaurant events at WTF featured home-brewed beers by Siam Brewing that used traditional Thai ingredients like toasted coconut, palm sugar and black sticky rice and it seems like there’s a growing army of brewers bending the laws to bring us distinctive home craft offerings. If you fancy making your own, check out www.homebrewasia.com for helpful tips. If you’re too lazy to DIY, don’t worry, we have it on very good authority that the next few months will see a new importer offering up some exciting new options that move away from the usual Belgian and German ales in favor of intriguing craft beers from stateside. And, no we don’t mean Budweiser.

Myanmar

We’ve actually been saying Myanmar is hot for over a year, now. And now it’s too late to go. The astonishing, almost-overnight transformation of Burma from repressive regime to come-one-come-all destination is great for the Burmese, not so great for tourists who like to visit destinations lost in time. Seats on Air Asia, Bangkok Airways and Thai Airways are constantly selling out, and hotels are fully booked. ‘My suggestion for the next 2-3 years, if you want to travel at an acceptable price, is to travel during low season, from May-Sep,” says Laurent Kuenzle, Group Managing Director of Asian Trails. BK’s itinerary: Swedagon in Yangon, the Sea of Pagodas in Bagan, Inle lake and the pagoda of Kyaithiyo.

Moo Eyewear

Her debut collection was featured in Vogue US, a pretty serious credential for Moo Piyasombatkul. What’s all the fuss about? The Central Saint Martin’s graduate applied her skills at crafting jewelry to glasses, turning out sophisticated artworks mixing baroque ceramics and vintage eyewear. Picked up by Lady Gaga as well as other global celebrities, Moo Eyewear is already sold in London, Hong Kong, LA, Seoul and the Middle East. But Bangkok is stuck on the waiting list. Come home, Moo!

Sathorn

With neatly paved sidewalks, gleaming high-rise towers, great public transport (thanks to the BRT and the BTS), and the first Dean & Deluca in Southeast Asia, Sathorn practically feels like Singapore already. And with the opening of the Sathorn Square mixed-use complex, the uber-fashionable W Bangkok Hotel, and upcoming MahaNakorn condo (set to be Bangkok’s tallest, and perhaps most beautiful), the area is set to continue its upscale urbanization.

Trang

Beaches in Thailand are also beyond saturation. But before you give up entirely on the coasts and islands, push a little further down South to Trang. You’ll surprised by the number of unspoiled beaches and islands to be found in this peaceful province. And thanks to its strong local culture (and TAT’s lack of interest), the powdery beaches and emerald seas are blissfully quiet. To get there, Air Asia (www.airasia.com) and Nok Air (www.nokair.com) fly between Bangkok and Trang daily.

Sunday Parties

Sunday chill-out sessions have always been a mainstay of gay and beachside clubbing scenes—except here in Bangkok, despite our beach-like weather and 51% gay male population. No more. After Confidential Sunday (Bed Supperclub) launched in Sep last year, two followers, with very different styles, have joined the Sunday is a Party Day movement. Kolour Sundays (Viva & Aviv, River City Shopping Complex, 23 Yotha Rd., 02-639-6305) takes a nice sunset spot by the Chao Praya River and adds a healthy dose of upbeat electro mixes from resident DJs. While the Sunset Sundays at St. Regis (159 Ratchadamri Rd., 02-207-7777) offers panoramic city views from the 15th floor, poolside lounging, soft n’ groovy house tunes and five new cocktails from talented mixologist Joseph Boroski.

READ ON>> 10 More Trends for 2012:

Bangkok's Top Fashion Bloggers

The 5 Most Tired Trends in Bangkok this 2012

Interview: Klaikong Vaidhyakarn

Interview: Pen-ek Karaket

Interview: Pitupong Chaowakul

Interview: Ekapoom Photharungroj

Interview: Chris Wise of WTF and Opposite

Interview: Niti “Pompam” Chaichitathorn

Sennheiser and Adidas

German’s leading headphone maker Sennheiser and one of the top names in sports, Adidas, just put out these sport headphones that don’t fall off your head, look great and don’t cost a fortune. Featuring seven different models of headphones and in-ear earphones, the collection’s highlight is the HD 220 Originals. With its white and blue colors, the model is a wink at Adidas retro heritage, while the adjustable ear cups offer a secure fit.
At Sennheiser Store, 5/F, MBK Center, 444 Phayathai Rd., 089-483-7200. BTS National Stadium. B2,490

Uniqlo and Jun Takahashi

Japanese casual wear brand Uniqlo has a long history of successful collaborations. The one with Jil Sander just ended (unfortunately), but Uniqlo has moved on fast, hooking up with Jun Takahashi, renowned Japanese designer and founder of fashion house Undercover. The result is the Uniqlo x Undercover collection. It mixes the casual clothing Uniqlo is famous for with touches of high-end street fashion to create clothes that are both wearable, fashion-forward and family-friendly.
At Uniqlo stores. 3/F, CentralWorld. 999/9 Rama 1 Rd. 02-613-1465. BTS Chit Lom (and Central Rama 9).

ODM and Tofu

Hong Kong watch maker ODM and Japanese design team Devilrobots of Tofu Oyako cranked out this limited edition watch collection. The face is marked by Tofu’s signature characters using simple lines and vivid colors, while the watch is pure ODM plastic-fantastic goodness.
At department stores nationwide in red, pink and yellow at B5,750. You’ll also get one set of free Tofu charms and stickers. Try M/F, Siam Paragon, 991 Rama 1 Rd., 02-690-1000. BTS Siam.

Converse and Masafumi Watanabe

The Jack Purcell sneaker made its debut over 75 years ago before being purchased by Converse in the 1970s. It looks a lot like Converse’s iconic Chuck Taylors, but features the distinctive ‘smile’ strip across the toe. Fused with Masafumi’s contemporary street-wear aesthetics, chocolate brown rubber and oak-brown leather touches, the result is just gorgeous and exclusive—only 200 were made.
At Converse Carnival, 1/F, Siamkit Bldg., Siam Square, Rama 1 Rd. , 02-664-4598. BTS Siam. B6,990.

Greyhound and Rubber Killer

Chiang Mai bag designer Rubber Killer is cranking out a special collection with local fashion behemoth Greyhound. With minimal designs and the use of plain black, the collection covers just three bags: The oversized canvas B1,595, the classic rubber tote B3,595 and the mini rubber tote (pictured) B2,995. Don’t let the plain looks fool you, all the bags are made from used car tires and are 100% green on top of being extremely durable.
At Greyhound flagship stores. Try 3/F, The Emporium, Sukhumvit Soi 24 Sukhumvit Rd., 02-269-1000. BTS Phrom Phong.

JUST IN: Artist Series. Hipster darlings Urface are teaming up with veteran party organizers Dudesweet. The collection launch party will be on Mar 23. B3,580 at Urface, 430/29 Siam Square Soi 10, Rama 1 Rd., 081-458-6778.

Ban Nam Kieng Din

Why you need to go: Can’t get a table at Chocolate Ville? Never mind, Ban Nam Kieng Din is a lot more affordable and accessible and has been doing the whole faux European farmhouse décor thing for over 10 years. It also boasts a delightful location on the beautiful Aksa Road. We recommend you book in advance for the spot by the duck pond and enjoy watching the rabbits scamper around the garden.
Eat this: Most of the dishes are made for a Thai palate and offer up hearty portions and honest cooking. Try a Caesar salad (B170), follow up with pork knuckle with sauerkraut (B295) and wash it down with their beers like Weizen, Munchen and Franziskaner (B160 for a pint).
60/1 Uttayan Rd., Taweewattana, 02-441-3837, 02-441-4657. Open Mon-Thu 5-11pm, Fri-Sun 4-11pm

Galley Café

Why you need to go: This small café is big on their food and their service. Located in a cute white house with a terrace and a garden, the place is popular at lunch with the office workers in the area. Homemade cakes and alfresco seating? Sign us up!
Eat this: Salad, steak and pasta classics. But what we always order here is the khao pad gang kiew waan moo (B65) and khao pad kee mao (B65).
14/42 Bangkhunnon, Talingchan, 02-881-3623. Open Thu-Tue 10am-10pm

Crème Brulee

Why you need to go: Located in the owner’s home, this sweet little café ticks all the trendy boxes: girly, Victorian, bucolic. Take an Emily Bronte novel and sit in the garden, which has no shortage of cutesy decorations.
Eat this: Try the seafood soup (B150), duck confit served with gratin dauphinois (B350) and Caribbean salmon (B350).
34/2 in front of Soi Baromrajchonnee 67, Talingchan, 085-998-8819. Open daily 7am-7pm (kitchen 11am-10pm)

MisterPas

Why you need to go: The lovely MisterPas has moved across the river from Phra Athit to this new location on Kanchanpisek Road. Yes, it’s a bit of a hike but it’s worth it if, like us, you miss the taste of their honest but interesting home-cooking and the place’s cozy dining-room-sized ambience. The new home offers a larger space but the simple yet innovative food and décor remain untouched—as does their warm welcome.
Eat this: The pistachio crusted snapper fillet on nero spaghetti (B395) remains a stand- out. Also try the spaghetti with crispy bacon (B250) and the oven-roasted pork fillet with garlic and sage wrapped in bacon with a cranberry sauce (B425).
88/12 Kritsana Village, Kanchanapisek Rd., Bang Kruay, 081-921-1920. Open Tue-Sun noon-11pm

Anya’s Place

Why you need to go: Clean air, and a touch of class—take that Thong Lor! With bean bags, a garden and a raw cement finish, Anya’s Place is probably one of the few restaurants in Thonburi that can actually boast hipster appeal. The big pond full of lotus flowers means it’s also a pretty romantic spot to take a date.
Eat this: Anya’s Place offers some Thai and Western favorites like moo klua gling prik tum (stir-fried pork with chili), namprik makaam (tamarind chili paste) and spaghetti keemao khana moo krob (spaghetti with chili, Chinese kale and crispy pork).
Pinklao-Nakhonchaisri Rd., 02-800-3533-4. www.anyaplace.com. Open Thurs- Tues 11am-10pm.

Silver Kitchen

Why you need to go: You’ll often spot people making the great migration across the Chao Praya for Silver Kitchen’s tasty Chinese food at reasonable prices. As a result, both lunch and dinner are always packed. But we recommend you fight the crowds and go for lunch to experience their dim sum. Also, the next door Ruen Yok (run by the same owners) is another great spot for suki boran, thanks to the sauce made from bean curd.
Eat this: Try pla krapong nueng manao (steamed sea bass in spicy lime sauce)—the fish is fresh and very zesty. Bamee kaa haan (egg noodle with goose legs) is also a must try if you like goose legs and their noodles are cooked perfectly. Wrap things up with some sweet galojee— pleasantly chewy with a nice aroma of sesame in the sugar.
331/36 Ratburana Rd., 02-871-3991-2. Open Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, 5-10pm; Sat-Sun 11am-10pm

Bangkok Sea View

Why you need to go: And now, for something completely different. Bangkok Sea View asks you to get on a long-tail boat (just B50 for adults and B20 for kids) from a pier on Rama 2 and go dine in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand, basically on a big platform on stilts. During the 20-min journey to get there, you’ll pass through a mangrove forest and see the lifestyle of people living by (and with) the river. This is bordering on a day-trip but it’s definitely worth it. Reservations recommended.
Eat this: Mostly seafood, obviously. Try the poo talay pad pong karee (sea crab in yellow curry, B550), choo chee gung (stir-fried prawns in red curry sauce, B250) and yam cha kram (seablite spicy salad, B150).
74/3 Thakam, Bangkhuntien, 083-160-6714, 089-613-1340. www.bangkokseaview.com. Open Tue-Sun 11am-9pm (last trip to the restaurant is 7pm)

Bad Wine Bistros

Wine Happening, Wine Me Up, Wine Bistro, Wine 33, Wine Lounge, Wine Republic, Wine I Love You, Why Wine Why or Wine XYZ… OK, we get it: Your restaurant serves wine. Now could we focus on cooking food that tastes a little better than Sizzler? With only a couple of exceptions, the maximum we’ve been able to give these “wine” places is two stars in our food reviews.

Feather earrings

It’s actually as old as summer 2011, when celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Biel, Jessica Szohr, and Heidi Klum sported the feathered look. But it’s after local fashion icons like Chompoo Araya or Ploy Cherman took to donning them that feather earrings went viral here. With summer 2012 upon us, this trend is officially, totally, absolutely over.

Movies with “Rak” in the title

We began this year with the movie Rak Wei Hei and ATM Err Rak Error in January, then continued with Rak Leaw Feaw Ah and Rak in February. March brought Rak Sood Teen and Rak Aow Yu. And guess what? Rak 555 is opening next week (Apr 5). Thailand’s movie makers have made us realize that there is such a thing as too much love.

Bell Skirts

The ultra-girly, Victorian, fragile look has got to go. In fact, the bell skirt, so popular in the 60s, is becoming a symbol of how women in Thailand might as well still be living in the 60s. Ready to move on? Why not look to Yves Saint-Laurent: the little black dress, the dashing tuxedo suits, the boleros and pencil skirts. It’s time for women who are both sexy and confident, and an end of that whole helpless Blythe Doll thing.

“Cordon Bleu” Chefs

The phrase Cordon Bleu is now being thrown around as if it was on a par with a Michelin star. The Grand Diplome is a serious 9 month-long course, sure, but there are also short 25-hour workshops, making the term “Cordon Bleu-trained” vague at best. Moreover Cordon Bleu graduates often go off and open shop right after school, without ever working in anyone’s kitchen, which means the results disappoint too often.

Adidas. Available at Adidas outlets nationwide, try 2/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-690-1000. BTS Siam
New Balance. Available at Super Sports nationwide, try 3/F, Central Plaza Rama 9, Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-667-5555. MRT Rama 9
Nike. Available at Nike stores nationwide, try 3/F, Central World, Ratchadamri Rd., 02-264-5555. BTS Chitlom

The Solo Artist

So maybe this group fitness thing isn’t for you. Avid runner Sharin Tebo, 33, who lives and works in Bangkok, shares her experience as a marathon runner (she’s run seven and placed fifth in the Amari Midnight Run) and her tips on running solo.

How do you prepare for each run?
Everything about running to me is mental. I literally have to talk myself in to it. I have to be in the mindset about how good it feels once I hit the pavement. Here in Bangkok, I have made it a point to lay out my running gear before I leave home in the morning. Once I get home from work and see my running clothes, it reminds me that I can’t be a couch potato.

How often do you run?
On average that’s about 28 miles per week. I run 5-6 days of the week if I am lucky and the weather cooperates. When training for a marathon, the mileage increases to about 35 miles a week. Those long runs to train for marathons make me cringe, but they’re necessary if you want to finish your races.

You run outdoors or on a treadmill?
I abhor treadmills! I suffered from a subluxed knee while training for my first marathon in 2007. I think it was caused by too many miles on the treadmill during the winter, when I really couldn’t run outside on the icy roads. I honestly believe it is a personal preference. Some like knowing their run will be consistent and they can control picking up the pace, slowing it down, changing the incline. Then there is me, I like to look around and know I am actually moving from point A to point B.

Any tips for beginning runners?
You have to start small. If you are not a natural-born runner (I am not), you have to simply try to get yourself outside on a consistent basis most days of the week. Try running for X amount of minutes, and each day or each week, try to increase that. Challenge yourself to a race every so often, just so you feel some of the personal fulfillment and reward. You are bound to meet others who are beginners and want to improve. Don’t get down on yourself about missing a run, either. Just make it a point to start back up as soon as you can. Furthermore, don’t try to force recovery. Sometimes you just have to realize your body’s signals do mean something.

Maxfit Performance

Complainers and slackers need not apply. Fitness instructor Stefan Lamping swears you’ll lose up to five pounds and two inches in your first week of camp, but he’s going to make you work for it. This one-hour, 712 calorie-blasting group sweating session is all about interval training and uses everything from kettlebells to your basic push-ups and lunges. They keep it fun and engaging, too, often incorporating workout games. One-hour bootcamps are held every Mon, Wed and Fri at 7am, 8am, 10am, 6pm and 7pm on the third floor of The Capitol Club at the end of Sukhumvit Soi 24 (BTS Phrom Phong). Free to try for a week, the rate is then B3,000 per month (for a six-month contract, in two B9,000 installments) or B5,000 for a month. In addition to their weekly sessions, they also offer personal training programs and weekend bootcamp trips to Hua Hin. For more information, go to www.maxfitperformance.co.th or call 089-071-4822.

Aspire Fitcorp Asia

Like Stefan, Daniel Remon is a man of action and expects the same from his clients. Since 2007, The Aspire Club (348/2 Sukhumvit Rd., across from Terminal 21. BTS Asoke/MRT Sukhumvit) has been running what they call Small Group Training, where Remon and his team of trainers take you through group workout sessions that include everything from kettlebells, core strength training, climbing ropes and even mixed martial arts. You name it, Remon says he has it—and lets you try it in a fun, social setting where you’ll meet like-minded people and achieve your fitness goals. Additionally, Fitcorp also runs outdoor bootcamps, (for brave souls willing to endure the heat) where women can expect to burn 600+ calories and men a whopping 800-1200 calories in their one-hour sessions. These are held at Benjakiti Park (Asoke Road, next to Queen Sirikit Convention Center) Mon, Wed and Fri 6-7am; Tue and Thur 5:30-6:30pm; and Sat 7-8am (B5,900 per month or B42,900 per year). For more information on the Small Group Training at The Aspire Club, go to www.theaspireclub.com or call 02-229-4114; 080-188-4114. For more information on the outdoor bootcamps, go to www.fitcorpasia.com or call the club’s listed numbers above.

Pro-Fit

Formerly held at Benjasiri Park (next to Emporium. BTS Phrom Phong), these bootcamp groups (for 10-15 people) are currently in between sesssions, so get in touch with them to find out their schedule. But at only B300 a session, you’ll be losing far more calories than baht. Not intense enough? The Pro-Fit duo recently added the option of Small Group Cardio Kickboxing Camps (B500 per session). Grab a few of your friends, as this session allows only up to five people, for some punching good fun. For more information, go to www.bangkokfitnesstraining.com, email [email protected] or call 085-328-0744.

Meet your master

Stefan Lamping of MaxFit Performance practices what he preaches. He changed his life around at 18 and is now dedicated to helping others do the same.

You call yourself a “former fat boy.” Do you think your own weight-loss challenges help you relate better to your clients?
Of course. I can actually feel what they feel. Because I was always quite a big teenager, sports were quite difficult for me and I always ended up last. But I kept fighting and trying. And then I met this Dutch body builder and he was a big inspiration. He taught me everything about what I should do and eat. Basically he changed my life and I lost a lot of weight in two or three years. Then I became a body builder myself.

Do you think group classes/bootcamps are more effective than solo training?
I think so, for sure. Because people are more motivated when they’re in a group, and they will push themselves harder. What I’ve found is that a lot of people who come here for the first time think they cannot make it, but other clients will push them and encourage them to not give up. Also, in a group it’s more fun. I find one-on-one training, which I also do, sometimes gets boring.

Do you ever have a “I just don’t want to work out”day?
Everyone has those days. What I do is listen to something motivational or watch a certain movie or I just take a break. But to be honest, my job gives me energy.

When I see people changing their lives, that gives me a lot of energy.
Biggest exercise myth?
Cardio on the treadmill for hours and hours. People think that they lose weight doing this, and that’s a myth. You can even get fatter. What you should focus on is your own body weight—use your own body for your exercises, use it as a machine. And interval training, where you work hard for a certain amount of time, then you slow down for a period, like sprinters, that’s the way you should exercise. That’s the secret.

Gear And Tips to Run in Bangkok

Altitude Training Offers Less Pain, More Gain

Killer Apps for Killer Workouts

Honda NC700x

B451,000 , 670cc
Finally, Honda’s stunning deconstructionist showroom, designed by VasLab, is set to open on April 26. And with it comes a wide range of their previously unavailable big bikes. This 700cc is a crossover adventure bike, like the Kawasaki Versys, but this engine was designed with fuel economy in mind, making the whole experience rather underwhelming.

Kawasaki Versys 650

B285,000, 650cc
The Versys isn’t the sexiest bike out there, but it’s quite possibly the best bang for your buck. Praised by reviewers as incredibly maneuverable, despite it’s added height, this is a ride that you can actually take up-country and race down Thong Lor.

Kawasaki ER-6N

B250,000, 650cc
Costing a mere B100,000 more than a Honda CBR 250, this bike’s engine is over four times the size. It’s also a great looking ride, with its aggressively-styled all-black features. This baby won’t be much use outside of Bangkok, but the point is to park it in front of trendy bars, not take it to Khao Yai.

Yamaha FZ1 Fazer

B590,000, 998cc
Deal alert: it’s a 1-liter engine and still B110,000 short of our price limit. But Kawasaki also does a Z1000 for nearly the same price (B585,000), so which one should you get? The Kawasaki looks and feels meaner. But the riding position and wind-protection of the FZ1 make it a much more realistic bike for longer rides outside of town. What’s sure is that both these bikes are a ton of fun and make for great all-rounders.

KTM 690 Duke

B628,000, 654cc
The KTM 690 Duke is a seriously insane bike. For one, it’s only got one cylinder. And common wisdom is you don’t do single cylinder bikes above 500cc. But this bike is clearly aimed at those with wisdom issues. It’s for doing wheelies, driving off-road and taking impossibly tight corners: behavior that can only be excused in the countryside or when trying to avoid really bad traffic jams.

Piaggio MP3

B530,000, 400cc
The new three-wheeled Piaggio 400ie from Vespa looks surprisingly like an ATV roadster but it’s actually a three-wheeler, making it narrower than an ATV, handy if you want to squeeze past cars in our city’s mad traffic. The extra wheel should come in particularly handy for stability this rainy season but if you compare the engine size to the price, this is not exactly a cheap toy.

Triumph Scrambler

B700,000, 865cc
We picked the scrambler because it’s so beautiful it makes us want to bite our fist and cry. It’s an 865cc, making it the second biggest bike of this roundup and also the most expensive. As for thrills, the Triumph ironically loses out to the Kawasaki W650, a copy of the original Triumph Bonneville. Only the Japanese knockoff isn’t available here, so you’ll just have to “settle” for the original’s stunning style and slightly ho-hum performance.

Essentials

Kawasaki. At Real Moto Sports. 372 Ramkhamhaeng 146 Rd.
02-7281605-6. Open daily 9am-6pm, closes at 5pm on Sunday.
Piaggio. At Vespario, Suhumvit Soi 55 (Thong Lor), 02-714-7742.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm.
Triumph. Britbike. 29/75-76 Royal City Avenue. 02-203-1315.
Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm.
Honda BigWing. Opening Apr 26. Praditmanutham Rd.
www.honda-bigbike.com
Yamaha Rider’s Club. TYM Marketing Co.,Ltd.Yamaha Rider’s Club Branch. 55/61 Ratchadapisek Rd., 02-640-6990.
www.yamaha-motor.co.th. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm
KTM. 2222 New Phetchburi Rd.. 02-318-0100.
www.ktmbangkok.com. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm.